What is Eco-Friendly Fabric and Clothing?

What is Eco-Friendly Fabric and Clothing? There’s no doubt about it, green is the “in” color these days.But with so many claims circulating the marketplace, how does one know that he is really shopping and purchasing eco-friendly fabric or clothing? The answer lays in quality assurance companies such as greensafemark.com or eco-tex. These third-party quality assurance companies ensure that a fabric with an eco-friendly claim truly follows eco-friendly practices. When you shop and see these labels, then you known that it really is environmentally safe.

So what is eco-friendly fabric and clothing? Eco-friendly fabric is tested for chemical residue by eco-labeling companies. In order to keep the fabric free of chemicals, organic clothing companies follow certain guidelines in order to manufacture their textiles. It is a process that cares for the environment and values human dignity. This process begins with the farming practices of those who grow the plant fiber, and rigorously follows fair practices all the way through to the people who sew that fabric into clothing. Organic fabric companies prepare their soil through historic farming practices such as crop rotation and organic fertilizers. They control weeds through insects and trap crops, rather than pesticides. They wait for a natural harvest caused by freezing temperatures or water management, rather than forcing a harvest with chemicals. They use natural corn starch to stabilize warp fibers. If the fibers need to be whitened, they use peroxide instead of chlorine. For finishing, the material is soft scoured in warm water and soda ash. Dyeing is done with natural materials rather than harsh chemicals. They ensure that our waterways stay clean by refraining from the use of heavy metals for their printing processes. They have strict criteria for how their fabric is assembled. Sweat shops are not used. Human life is valued not only by those who make eco-friendly fabric and clothing, but also by all of the consumers who pay for the clothing.

While the initial cost of organic material is more expensive, the lifelong investment is priceless. This is why organic consumers are willing to pay more for that peace of mind. With so many companies claiming to be organic, it is difficult to know whether or not a claim is backed by true eco-friendly practices. You can know that a fabric you buy is eco-friendly by looking for an eco-label such as Greensafe Mark, Ecoproof, or NATURTEXTIL just to name a few. Be cautious of those who claim their fabric is eco-friendly, but won’t submit to a third party for quality assurance. An eco-label is the only way that you can know without a doubt that the fabric or clothing that you buy was manufactured using eco-friendly practices. Eco-friendly material is more expensive, and those who buy the products are willing to pay the initial outlay because they know that the long-term benefits are worth it. However, there are those who may take shortcuts in order to make more of a profit. This is why the eco-label is so important. When you see an eco-label, you know that the product you are buying was produced without taking advantage of those who would work for mere pennies a day in a sweat shop. You also know that the environment was not harmed to produce the fabric you wear. Knowing that makes an eco-label worth its weight in gold.